Aircraft



ug. 5', 11930. H. R. WALLACE AIRGRAFT Filed April 30, 1928 2Sheets-Sheet l l NVENTOR ATTORNEYS H. R. WALLACE AIRCRAFT Filed April30, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l NVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented. hug. '5,193of ii 1,772,196' l e UNITED STATES .PATENT omer.

' HUBBE, R. WALLACE,OF PABX CITY, UTAH AIRCRAFT 'application med April3o, 192s. serial N0. 273,839. 'i

This invention relates to aircraft and has machine along the grounduntil suiiicient particular reference to heavier-than-air craft speedis'obtained to produce sufficient eleof the aeroplane type in which abody havlng vating pressure upon the under side of the plane surfacesarranged at an angle to the planes to raise the machine. VBy immediatelyproposed direction of travel is malntained 1n utilizing the propellerair stream as pro- 50 and driven through the air by an aerial screwduced, the aeroplane may take 0H Within a propeller driven by a suitablemotor, the air few lengths and from aY field of small area, pressuredeveloped by the forward movement as the lifting action of the propellerair on the underside of the planes serving to stream on the planes takesplace immediately.

raise and maintain the body in the air while D uring Hight, thepropeller air stream, im 55- the traction produced by the propellerdrives pinging upon suitable planes, may be conthe body in a foxgwarddirection. In aerotrolled at will byl altering the pitch of these planesconstructed'heretofore, the air displanes to produce various aerodynamicefplaced by the aerial screw propeller is disfects.

1.1 persed whilethe pressure on the planes for In accordance with thisobject, the inven- 50 'lifting yand maintaining the machine in the tionconisists'of an aeroplane constructed in air is obtained by the velocityof the machine such a way that the air stream produced by through vtheair. Thus the propeller disthe pro 'eller is confined in order that itmay places the air to drive the machine forwardly, be readilycontrolled. This confinement of '2o but the air displaced by thepropeller in the the air stream is obtained by making the main 65 formof a high pressure air stream is largely planes and fuselage of theaeroplane hollow lost by dispersion as the machine advances. -to formwind tunnels, the air stream being This is especially true in the caseof the distributed to these air tunnels in accordpusher type ofaeroplane where the Propellers lance with the velocity thereof, that is,the

are mounted in therear of the mam planes, air of greatestvelocity isldistributed to the 70 while in the tractor or forward propeller tunnelsremote fromvthe propeller while the type of aeroplane the pressureproduced by air of less velocity is distributed in tunnels the propelleris not desirable and is frenear the propeller, the-greatest airvelocit)r quently 'dispersed by streamline construe-S' being. producedby the tips of the propeller tion. It is well known, that the air streamplatesas aforesaid. The air tunnels are each 75 produced by a screwpropeller takes the formprovided .with a plurality of plane vanes A of acylindrical jet of great velocity, hinged to the upper and lowersurfaces of the velocity being greatest at' the tips of thefpromainplanes lin which the principal air tunpeller blades and least at theaxis of rotation nels are formed. thereof. vIt is the principalqobjectof this invention planes are arranged so that they may be eleto provideaircraft which immediately utivated to lie in the air stream of theirrespec' lizeg the air stream produced by the protivewind tunhelsandsimultaneously to open peller instead of allowing it to disperse andapertures in the lowerv surface of the main 40 which utilizes this airstream without diminplanes so that the vanes deflect air downward- .saishing the tractive effect of the propeller in 1y through these aertures whereby lthe redisplacing air to advance the craft. The sultantreaction pro uces a lifting effect. The propeller air stream `isjusedimmediately as upperasurfaces of the `main planes are proproduced uponsuitable-planes to elevate lthe vided with similar vanes which may alsobe The 'vanes in the lower surfacesv of the main 80l i machine withoutthe necessity of driving the elevated t0 Open apeltls through which 9G lQ the air of the wind tunnels ows, these upper `:Hight so as to vanesbeing adapted'to be actuated during partially neutralize the liftingeffect ofthe lower vanes. rA similar 'wind tunnelis formed vhy the lowerportion of the fusela e, the lower surface of which is also provi edwith lifting vanes similar to. those l provided on the lower surfaces ofthe main with apertures these ailerons,

lanes. The rear edges of the main planes orniing the wind tunnels arealsoprovided through which the excess air. stream may iow,theseapertures being pro-V vided with stabilizing planes or ai-leronsofv the usualtype for warping the main planes, however, also acting withthe upper and lower vanes to produce the effect described. The.windtunnel formed in the fuselage is also provided with a similar'sta-'.bilizing vane for the same purpose. The

the line 2 2 of The fuselage frame aeroplane isfgenerally shaped in theusual way, the main lanes having the standard cambeied aero oilcross-section, and arev placed'- at an angle with respect tothedirectionv of flight in order that the air pressure onV the undersurfaces of the main planes will maintain the aeroplane in Hight in theusual way. It will be seen that in order to confine. the propeller airstream in the Wind tunnels, a tractor machine is preferred, 'the.propeller being placed at the front end ofthe fuselage and beingconfined by the walls of a distributing wind tunnel to which the mainplane and fuselage wind tunnels are connected.

For a better understanding of the inven tion, reference is made to theaccompanying i' drawings, in which v l Figure 1 is a semi-diagrammaticplan view of an aeroplane constructed `in accordance` with thisinvention Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken along fig. l; and

Fig. 3 is a cross-section of one of the wings taken along line 3-3 ofFig. 1.

lin these drawings, numeral generally `designates the fuselagecontaining the cockn pit 11 which is preferably stream-line shaped inlorder to diminish frictional resistance and contains the opera-tors andpassengers seats as well as the variousnecessary apparatus such as fueltanks, equipment, and thelike..

extends forwardly of the cock-pit 11 and mounts the engine or motor 12,which is preferably of the air-cooled type,

and the propeller 13 connected to and driven by the motor 12. Thecovering 140i the fuselage 10 surrounds the propeller 13 in the mannerillustrated, so that a closed chamber 15 is formed between the propeller13 and the cockpit 11. This chamber is extended beneath the cock-pit 11as an elongated assag'e 16 extending to the tail of theaerop aneandprovided withano enend17.

.Exten ing laterally of the. fuse age 10 in er ain planes 18, which 'arepreferably of the swept-back aero-foil `cross-section illustrated byFig. 3.

These winvs are hollow and communicate with cham er f15.- through-apertures 19 as shown in Fig. 2. Stream line partitions A20,

21 and 22 divide each of the hollow wings into' e Wind tunnels 23,24,25, and 26, each of these wind tunnels being provided with an openrear end 27, as shown inA Fig. 3.' In order that the cylindricalair'stream produced by the propeller 13 may be divided in accordancewith the decreasing velocity" of the stream from thetips of thepropeller blades to the hub thereof, each of the partitions g 21 and 22"is provided witha suitable defiector in air chamber'l. As wind tunnels23 are most remote from air chamber 15, it is preferable that the air ofThereto, and the air of lower velocity be distributed to tunnels nearestthe propellei` in greatest velocity be distributed order that theairflowing into each tunnel may be ofl approximately thesame velocity.Accordingly, deflectors 28 of partitions 2O arepl'aced toward the tipsofthe propeller bladeswithin air chamber 15 in/order that the highestvelocity air whichisl produced at the, A

tips of the propeller blades may be introduced into remote' [windtunnels 23. In the same way, defiectors 29of partitions 2l dis! Jtributeair 'of next highest velocity into Wind tunnels 24, deiiectors30'distribute air of the next highest velocity into wind tunnels 25,While deflectors 30 of partitions 22, which cooperate with the streamline shape of cock-pit 11 to form tunnels 26, distribute 10W velocityair from the center of the air stream to tunnels 23. Similarly, thestreamline lower surface of cook-pit 11 distributes air to the fuselagepassage 16.

The lower surfaces of the air tunnels are provided with apertures oropenings 31 spaced longitudinally of the respective tunnels. Each ofthese openings 31 is normally 'covered by a plane vane 32, which ispreferably hinged tothe rear edge of the corresponding illustratedparticularly in Fig. 3. The lowei surface of the fuselage 10 is alsoprovided with apertures 33 which are similarly fitted withplane vanes 34hinged at the rear edges of .these apertures. The upper surfaces of thewings 18 are also provided with openings 35 spaced longitudinally of theseveral wind tunnels and which are normally closed by plane .vanes 36,hinged ,to the forward edges of these openings so that the varies may beelevated-upwardly at an angle to uncover `these openings 3 5.- It isings35 be-placed directly-above openings 31 iii the lower surface of thewings. Within the open rear edges 27 of the wings v18. are providedplane vanes 37, which areof the wings 18 at each preferred that opennopening 31 in the manner lat-eral pair of these vanes 37 in each sideare extended rearwardly to form the ailerons for warping the machine inflight in order to secure stability in the usual way. Thus the Yanes 37and 37 ilar vane 38 is mounted in the rear opening 17 of fuselagepassage 16, thisvane being also mounted for pivoting 'movement about atransverse axis so as to present an angular surface to the air stream.The tail ofthe aeroplane is provided with the usual equipment. such asthe empennagc 39 for longitudinal stability, the elevators 40, andthelrudder 4,1..

vVarious forms of control means to be operated from the cock-pit 11 maybe provided for actuating vanes 32, 36, 37, and 38. Such means may be ofthe lordinarydouble cable and lever combination, electrical solenoids orgears. l(lne,(if-these, namely levers, is. shown for purposes ofillustration. Iliasmuch as each set of vanes 32 and 3b is pret'- erablycontrolled as a unit, each row of each set may be fitted .with a shaft42 vand 43, respectively, mounted on the wings 18 by suitable means.Connected to each shaft 42 and 43 arelevers Pfand 45, respectively.which are connected together 'by links`46 and 47, respectively, theselinks being' oscillated longitudinally from the cockpit 11 by theoperator to open and close the Vanes at will by suitable actuatingmechanism not shown. In` the same way vanes 34 in the fuselage lowersurface may be mounted upon shafts 48 which are operatively connected tosha-fts 43 so as to be operated simultaneously therewith, or the shafts48 may be provided with separate levers 4f) loperated by link 50 asshown in Fig. 2. y Likewise, vane-s and ailerons 37-and 37 may bemount-ed on ay rotatable shaft 5l which carries a lever 52 and actuatinglink 53. but as the ailerons of either wing 18 are moved in opposite.direct-ions to produce the warping action, shaft` 51 'and the actuatingmechanism should be divided. one 'for each wing 18. so that the variableaction can be obtained when required. Vane 38 at the tail of theaeroplane is also provided with a lc-` ver 54 connected to link 55 whichis actuated from the cock-pit by suitable means not. shown to tilt thisvane incpening 17.

In operation, the motor 12 vofthe aeroplane is started-while the machineis at. rest' but ready for iight, and immediately the air displaced bythe propeller 13 is blown at high velocity into air chamber 15. As theair stream thus produced is cylindrical in shape, and as the velocity ofthe air is greatest at the tips of the propeller blades and decreases invelocity toward the hub of the propeller, it is desirablev to distributethis air stream in accordance with the velocity of portions thereof.Accordingly, the air of highest velocity, i. e. that'at the propellertips, is sepa.- rated by deflectjors 28 and led into remote have twofunctions. simwindtunnels 23 in wings 18, while deflectors `29 and 30lead theair of decreasing velocity into tunnels 24, 25 and26,respectively, and thel stream-line lower surface of the cock-pit 11distributes a portion of the air stream linto fuselage tunnel 16. i

'When the aeroplane is at rest andxinreadinessfor flight, the vanes 36in the upper wing surfaces are all closed, lower vanes 32 and 34 areraised at an angle to uncover the corresponding apertures 31 and 35,respectively, .while vanes 37, 37 and' 38 are tilted so that theirforward edges are raised to substantially close the upper portions ofpassages 27 and 17, respectively', as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The motor12 is then started and the high velocity air blast developed by thepropeller 13 is distributed to'the various wind. tunnels in the mannerillustratedby the arrows in the drawings. Vhile the direct thrust ofthepropeller l13 moves the aeroplane forwardly, the air displaced therebyin so doing is not lost but is confined in the air tunnels where itimpinges against the in-r clined surfaces of vanes 32, .31, 37, 37', and38, causing the air to be deflected downwardly through thevcorresponding openings, whereby an upward reaction takes place whichraises the aeroplane as a whole so that .it moves upward and forward.Inasmuch as the air blastimmediately impinges upon these inclined vaneswhen the motor is started, the aeroplane begins to rise at once so that/it is unnecessary to develop suiicient ground speed to take off but theaeroplane will rise without appreciable movement along the ground,whereby it is possible to take off from a. field of small area.

After the craft has attained suficientieles vation to allow rapidforward movement, upper vanes 36 are raised to uncover apertures 35, andvanes 37, 37 and 38 are returned to the normal position in alignmentlwith the wings 18 and tail 4Q, respectively, as is illustrated in Figs.2 and 3.` I The air stream divides between openings 31 and 35 whereby bythe propeller in the manner described and the exterior stream developedby the movement of the craft in Hight, the adjustment of thesey planesin various positions producesvariousaei'odynamic effects which may bemore rapidly procured in the machine of this in'- vention. For examplein climbing tohigh'- er levels, the lower vanes 32 and 34 may remainelevated, the uppervvanes closed, and the rear vanes 17 and 38 turned sothat their forward ed es aredown. This has the effect of raising dienose of the craft and depressing the tail thereof while operating thetail planes 40 in the usual way. Also in securing stability by operatingthe ailerons 37 in 1 opposite directions, the air blast impinging 5thereon from opening 37 in addition to the exterior air stream owingvoverthe wing ,surfaces, which impinges upon the tops of the elongatedvanes 37 which extend beyond the surfaces of the wings, while theshorter vanes 37 which do not extend beyond the wing surfaces areinfluenced only by the proeller air stream issuing from opening 27. hejoint effect thus produced secures more rapid stabilizin 'action of theailerons 37', augmented vby t e actionof the 'air stream acting uponvanes 37 and`l that portionof vanes 37 which lies Within opening 37 andtherefore under the. influence of the air stream issuing therefrom.Various other obvious aerodynamic effects may be procured 35 scribed.Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited tothe parl ticular construction illustrated and described, but that it issusceptible to many alterations and modifications such as the use of 4odiiferent forms of impellers o r aerial screws,

a different form'of wind tunnel and arrangement of vanes, and the like.iFor example,

, in sometypes of craft, es eciall in the smaller designs, it' may beesirab e to `dispense with the partitions which form a number ofwindtunnels and use the entire interior portion of the -win tunnel embodyingthe general principles described@v v 1. In aircraft, the Y ropeller, amotor therefor,y a hollow body at iieast partially *enclosing thepropeller for receiving only the air stream produced there- A by, hollowwin s communicating with the interiorof said ollowlbody, openings-in,.the' body and wings, vmovable vanes normally closing said openingsin the body and wings, said vanes when openedbeing arranged to be ,auactedi upon by the said air stream passing through 'said'openings, andmeans forrcontrolling said vanes. Y

2. In aircraft, lthe combination of an aerial propellei.a motortherefor, a hollow\- -body B5 at' leastpartially enclosing the propellerfor air tunnels and vanes to pro.-

orthe like as a single wind combination of an aerial receiving'oiily theair stream l roduced thereby, hollow win s commrunicating with the interior of said ollow body, openings in the body and wings, movable:`vanes normally closing said openings in the=` body and wings, said vaneswhen opened being arranged to'be placed in the air stream for deflectinga portion of'said stream throu h'the correspond- Ving openings, andmeans igor controlling said vanes. 3. In aircraft, the combination of anaerial' propeller, a motor therefor, a hollow ody (at least partiallenclosing the propell r for receiving only t e air stream producedthereby, hollow wings communicating with the interior of said hollowbody, openings in the bod and wings, movable vanes mounted over saiopeninfrs in the body and wings, ivotal Jmountings or'said vanes, andmeans or piv-' oting said vanes to introduce them into the air stream,whereby a portion of the stream is deflected through the o enings.

4. VIn aircraft, the com ination of a body` having lateral wings apropeller mounted thereon, a. motor for rivin the propeller, a windtunnelin the bodyan wings communieating with the propeller for receivingonly the air stream produed thereby, openings in the windt-unne1,.mo.vable vanes mounted over said openings for controlling theair passing through said openings, and .meansfor-v controllingsaid'vanes.

5. In aircraft, the combination of a body having lateral wings, apropeller mounted thereon, la motor for driving the propeller,

a wind tunnel' in the body and wings communicating with' the propellerfor receiving only the air stream'produced thereby, a serifes ofopenings in the lower wall of the tunnel,

vanes normally closing said openings, and

saidvanes in the same dimeans for movin reaction 'into the airstream atan angle to uncover said openings and deflect a portion of the airvstream through the corresponding openings. .if p

6. Inaircraft, the combination of a body having lateral wings, a.propeller mounted thereon, a 'motor for driving the propeller, awind-tunnel .in the body-'and wings Acommunicating Withthe propeller forreceiving only theai'r. stream produced thereby, peningsin't e upperwall of thel tunnel,vanes f normall closin said 6 enin s and means Y g gy for moving said lvanes at an angle into the` air stream to uncoversaid openings` and deect alportion of the air stream through the cor.-

responding openings.

izo

7s In aircraft, the combinationofa body havingv latgeral wings, apropeller mounted.

thereon, a moto forl drivin the propeller,.a wind tunnel in the body anwings communicatingwith the propeller for receivingonly the airstreamiroduced'thereby, openings intheJ upper an lower wallsof thetunnel,

vanes normally closingsaid opening's,-and

means for moving said vanes at an angle into the air stream to uncoversaid openings and deflect a portion of the air stream through the theair stream produced th reby, branch tunnels in said wings communicatingwith the main wind tunnel, an opening in the end of the main tunnel for`passage of the air stream, a vane mounted in said opening and normallylying parallel to the air stream, and means' for moving said vane at anangle to tlie air stream to deflect the same.

inV said opening and normally lyingparallel to the air stream, and meansfor moving-said vanes at an angle to the air stream whereby the airexerts lpressure on said vanes.

13. In anv aeroplane, the combination of hollowwings, a propeller, acommunication between the propeller'and the interior of the wings forconducting the propeller air stream therein, openings in the lowersurfaces of the wings, pivotal vanes normally closing said openings,means for moving saidi'vanesat an angle'into the air stream whereby theair exerts upward pressure on thevan'es andis deflected through thecorresponding openings, an opening in the rear edge of the wings for thenormal passage of the'propeller air stream, ailerons mounted in saidopening nor- 9. In ain-raft, the combination of a body\ mally parallelto theA air stream, and means having laterally extending wings, apropeller mounted thereon, a motor fior driving the Rropelle r, a mainwind tun nel inthe body and communicating with the propeller forreceiving only the air stream produced thereby, 'branch tunnels in saidwings'communicating with saidmain tunnel, openings in the walls and endsof the tunnels, vanes in these openings, the vanes in the walls normallyclosing Y the corresponding openings, and means for moving said vanes atan angle in 'the air stream to deflect .thel same through the openings.

'10. In aircraft, the combination of a body, having laterally extendingwings, a pi opell er mounted thereon, a motor fpr driving the propeller,a main wind tunnel in the body and communicating with the propeller forreceiving only the air stream produced thereby, branch tunnels in saidwings communieating with the interiorl of said main tunnel, openings inthe walls of the tunnels, vanes normally closing said openings, anopening in the end of the main tunnel for the free /passage of the airstream, a vane in this end openingiiormally arranged parallel to'the airstream` and means for moving said vanes atan angle in the air stream,whereby the air stream exerts pressure on the vanes.

' 11. In an aeroplane, tlie'combination of.

hollow wings, a propeller, a communication between the propeller and theinterior .of the wings for conducting only the propeller air streamtherein, openings in the surfaces of stream to.

the wings, substantially horizontal vanes nor,- mally closing saidopenings, and means for moving said vanes at an angleinto the airdeflect the air through the corresponding openings and exert pressureupon 12. In an'aeroplanqthe combinationlof hollow wings, a propeller, acpmm'unication between the propeller and the interior of the 1- vwingsfor conducting the propeller. air stream therein, openings in thesurfaces of the wings, vanes normally closing said openings, an openingin the rear edge of the wings, a vane --for vmoving the ailerons at anangle whereby f the air stream exerts pressure thereon.

'for leading a portion of `the air into each of said tunnels,substantially horizontal vanes' adjacent the several tunnels arranged tobe acted upon by the air streams therein, and

means for movingsaid vanes at an angle,

whereby the corresponding air. streams exert pressure thereon.

15. In an aeroplane, the combination of 85' 14. In an aeroplane, thecombination of- -liollow wings, `a propeller and motor therey for,partitions in the'i wings forming air tun-- nels, deilectors in thepropeller air stream for v leading a portion of the air into each ofsaid tunnels, said delectors being arranged to distribute tlie highvelocity air of the stream to the remote tunnels 4 and the low velocityfstream to the near tunnels, vanes adjacent the several tunnels arrangedto 'be acted upon by the air stream therein, and means for moving saidvanes at an angle, whereby the-corresponding air streams exert pressurethereon. .16, In' an aeroplane, the combination of lwings and afuselage, rearwardly directed 'air tunnels in the Wings and fuselage,means for fleading only the air stream produced by the propeller. intothe several tunnels, and substantially horizontal vanes arranged inthese tunnels for deecting the air to produce reaction pressures in aforward and upward direction.

.17. In an aeroplane, the combination of wings anda fuselage, rearwardlydirected air' tunnels in the wings-and fuselage, means for leading onlythe air stream produced by the propeller into the several tunnels,substantially horizontal vanes mounted for impingement by the tunnel airstreams, and means for moving said vanes at an angle to 'the air tunnelsin the Wings and fuselage, means for leadin only the air -streamproduced by the propel er into Ythe several tunnels, openings invthe'ieer and sides of these tunnels, substantialy horizontal.v vanesarranged adjacent -tliese openings for impingex'nent of' theair"streams, and means for moving said Yanes.v at an"angle whereby the alrstreams exert variable' pressure on these vanes. v In testimony whereofI ax my signature.

' HUBBE WALLACE.

